SummaryThe suite of graphene’s unique properties and applications can be enormously enhanced by its functionalization. As non-covalently functionalized graphenes do not target all graphene’s properties and may suffer from limited stability, covalent functionalization represents a promising way for controlling graphene’s properties. To date, only a few well-defined graphene derivatives have been introduced. Among them, fluorographene (FG) stands out as a prominent member because of its easy synthesis and high stability. Being a perfluorinated hydrocarbon, FG was believed to be as unreactive as the two-dimensional counterpart perfluoropolyethylene (Teflon®). However, our recent experiments showed that FG is not chemically inert and can be used as a viable precursor for synthesizing graphene derivatives. This surprising behavior indicates that common textbook grade knowledge cannot blindly be applied to the chemistry of 2D materials. Further, there might be specific rules behind the chemistry of 2D materials, forming a new chemical discipline we tentatively call 2D chemistry. The main aim of the project is to explore, identify and apply the rules of 2D chemistry starting from FG. Using the knowledge gained of 2D chemistry, we will attempt to control the chemistry of various 2D materials aimed at preparing stable graphene derivatives with designed properties, e.g., 1-3 eV band gap, fluorescent properties, sustainable magnetic ordering and dispersability in polar media. The new graphene derivatives will be applied in sensing, imaging, magnetic delivery and catalysis and new emerging applications arising from the synergistic phenomena are expected. We envisage that new applications will be opened up that benefit from the 2D scaffold and tailored properties of the synthesized derivatives. The derivatives will be used for the synthesis of 3D hybrid materials by covalent linking of the 2D sheets joined with other organic and inorganic molecules, nanomaterials or biomacromolecules.

The suite of graphene’s unique properties and applications can be enormously enhanced by its functionalization. As non-covalently functionalized graphenes do not target all graphene’s properties and may suffer from limited stability, covalent functionalization represents a promising way for controlling graphene’s properties. To date, only a few well-defined graphene derivatives have been introduced. Among them, fluorographene (FG) stands out as a prominent member because of its easy synthesis and high stability. Being a perfluorinated hydrocarbon, FG was believed to be as unreactive as the two-dimensional counterpart perfluoropolyethylene (Teflon®). However, our recent experiments showed that FG is not chemically inert and can be used as a viable precursor for synthesizing graphene derivatives. This surprising behavior indicates that common textbook grade knowledge cannot blindly be applied to the chemistry of 2D materials. Further, there might be specific rules behind the chemistry of 2D materials, forming a new chemical discipline we tentatively call 2D chemistry. The main aim of the project is to explore, identify and apply the rules of 2D chemistry starting from FG. Using the knowledge gained of 2D chemistry, we will attempt to control the chemistry of various 2D materials aimed at preparing stable graphene derivatives with designed properties, e.g., 1-3 eV band gap, fluorescent properties, sustainable magnetic ordering and dispersability in polar media. The new graphene derivatives will be applied in sensing, imaging, magnetic delivery and catalysis and new emerging applications arising from the synergistic phenomena are expected. We envisage that new applications will be opened up that benefit from the 2D scaffold and tailored properties of the synthesized derivatives. The derivatives will be used for the synthesis of 3D hybrid materials by covalent linking of the 2D sheets joined with other organic and inorganic molecules, nanomaterials or biomacromolecules.

Max ERC Funding

1 831 103 €

Duration

Start date: 2016-06-01, End date: 2021-05-31

Project acronymAxScale

ProjectAxions and relatives across different mass scales

Researcher (PI)Babette DÖBRICH

Host Institution (HI)EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH

Call DetailsStarting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2018-STG

SummaryPseudoscalar QCD axions and axion-like Particles (ALPs) are an excellent candidate for Dark Matter or can act as a mediator particle for Dark Matter. Since the discovery of the Higgs boson, we know that fundamental scalars exist and it is timely to explore the Axion/ALP parameter space more intensively. A look at the allowed axion/ALP parameter space makes it clear that these might exist at low mass (below few eV), as (part of) Dark Matter. Alternatively they might exist at higher mass, above roughly the MeV scale, potentially as a Dark Matter mediator particle. AxScale explores parts of these different mass regions, with complementary techniques but with one research team.
Firstly, with RADES, it develops a novel concept for a filter-like cavity for the search of QCD axion Dark matter at a few tens of a micro-eV. Dark Matter Axions can be discovered by their resonant conversion in that cavity embedded in a strong magnetic field. The `classical axion window' has recently received much interest from cosmological model-building and I will implement a novel cavity concept that will allow to explore this Dark Matter parameter region.
Secondly, AxScale searches for axions and ALPs using the NA62 detector at CERN's SPS. Especially the mass region above a few MeV can be efficiently searched by the use of a proton fixed-target facility. During nominal data taking NA62 investigates a Kaon beam. NA62 can also run in a mode in which its primary proton beam is fully dumped. With the resulting high interaction rate, the existence of weakly coupled particles can be efficiently probed. Thus, searches for ALPs from Kaon decays as well as from production in dumped protons with NA62 are foreseen in AxScale. More generally, NA62 can look for a plethora of `Dark Sector' particles with recorded and future data. With the AxScale program I aim at maximizing the reach of NA62 for these new physics models.

Pseudoscalar QCD axions and axion-like Particles (ALPs) are an excellent candidate for Dark Matter or can act as a mediator particle for Dark Matter. Since the discovery of the Higgs boson, we know that fundamental scalars exist and it is timely to explore the Axion/ALP parameter space more intensively. A look at the allowed axion/ALP parameter space makes it clear that these might exist at low mass (below few eV), as (part of) Dark Matter. Alternatively they might exist at higher mass, above roughly the MeV scale, potentially as a Dark Matter mediator particle. AxScale explores parts of these different mass regions, with complementary techniques but with one research team.
Firstly, with RADES, it develops a novel concept for a filter-like cavity for the search of QCD axion Dark matter at a few tens of a micro-eV. Dark Matter Axions can be discovered by their resonant conversion in that cavity embedded in a strong magnetic field. The `classical axion window' has recently received much interest from cosmological model-building and I will implement a novel cavity concept that will allow to explore this Dark Matter parameter region.
Secondly, AxScale searches for axions and ALPs using the NA62 detector at CERN's SPS. Especially the mass region above a few MeV can be efficiently searched by the use of a proton fixed-target facility. During nominal data taking NA62 investigates a Kaon beam. NA62 can also run in a mode in which its primary proton beam is fully dumped. With the resulting high interaction rate, the existence of weakly coupled particles can be efficiently probed. Thus, searches for ALPs from Kaon decays as well as from production in dumped protons with NA62 are foreseen in AxScale. More generally, NA62 can look for a plethora of `Dark Sector' particles with recorded and future data. With the AxScale program I aim at maximizing the reach of NA62 for these new physics models.

Max ERC Funding

1 134 375 €

Duration

Start date: 2018-11-01, End date: 2023-10-31

Project acronymBetaDropNMR

ProjectUltra-sensitive NMR in liquids

Researcher (PI)Magdalena Kowalska-Wyrowska

Host Institution (HI)EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH

Call DetailsStarting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2014-STG

Summary"The nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is a versatile and powerful tool, especially in chemistry and in biology. However, its limited sensitivity and small amount of suitable probe nuclei pose severe constraints on the systems that may be explored.
This project aims at overcoming the above limitations by giving NMR an ultra-high sensitivity and by enlarging the NMR ""toolbox"" to dozens of nuclei across the periodic table. This will be achieved by applying the β-NMR method to the soft matter samples. The method relies on anisotropic emission of β particles in the decay of highly spin-polarized nuclei. This feature results in 10 orders of magnitude more sensitivity compared to conventional NMR and makes it applicable to elements which are otherwise difficult to investigate spectroscopically. β-NMR has been successfully applied in nuclear physics and material science in solid samples and high-vacuum environments, but never before to liquid samples placed in atmospheric pressure. With this novel approach I want to create a new universal and extremely sensitive tool to study various problems in biochemistry.
The first questions which I envisage addressing with this ground-breaking and versatile method concern the interaction of essential metal ions, which are spectroscopically silent in most techniques, Mg2+, Cu+, and Zn2+, with proteins and nucleic acids. The importance of these studies is well motivated by the fact that half of the proteins in our human body contain metal ions, but their interaction mechanism and factors influencing it are still not fully understood. In this respect NMR spectroscopy is of great help: it provides information on the structure, dynamics, and chemical properties of the metal complexes, by revealing the coordination number, oxidation state, bonding situation and electronic configuration of the interacting metal.
My long-term aim is to establish a firm basis for β-NMR in soft matter studies in biology, chemistry and physics."

"The nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is a versatile and powerful tool, especially in chemistry and in biology. However, its limited sensitivity and small amount of suitable probe nuclei pose severe constraints on the systems that may be explored.
This project aims at overcoming the above limitations by giving NMR an ultra-high sensitivity and by enlarging the NMR ""toolbox"" to dozens of nuclei across the periodic table. This will be achieved by applying the β-NMR method to the soft matter samples. The method relies on anisotropic emission of β particles in the decay of highly spin-polarized nuclei. This feature results in 10 orders of magnitude more sensitivity compared to conventional NMR and makes it applicable to elements which are otherwise difficult to investigate spectroscopically. β-NMR has been successfully applied in nuclear physics and material science in solid samples and high-vacuum environments, but never before to liquid samples placed in atmospheric pressure. With this novel approach I want to create a new universal and extremely sensitive tool to study various problems in biochemistry.
The first questions which I envisage addressing with this ground-breaking and versatile method concern the interaction of essential metal ions, which are spectroscopically silent in most techniques, Mg2+, Cu+, and Zn2+, with proteins and nucleic acids. The importance of these studies is well motivated by the fact that half of the proteins in our human body contain metal ions, but their interaction mechanism and factors influencing it are still not fully understood. In this respect NMR spectroscopy is of great help: it provides information on the structure, dynamics, and chemical properties of the metal complexes, by revealing the coordination number, oxidation state, bonding situation and electronic configuration of the interacting metal.
My long-term aim is to establish a firm basis for β-NMR in soft matter studies in biology, chemistry and physics."

SummaryIn photovoltaics (PVs), a significant scientific and technological attention has been given to technologies that have the potential to boost the solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency and to power recently unpowerable devices and objects. The research of various solar cell concepts for diversified applications (building integrated PVs, powering mobile devices) has recently resulted in many innovations. However, designs and concepts of solar cells fulfilling stringent criteria of efficiency, stability, low prize, flexibility, transparency, tunable cell size, esthetics, are still lacking.
Herein, the research focus is given to a new physical concept of a solar cell that explores extremely promising materials, yet unseen and unexplored in a joint device, whose combination may solve traditional solar cells drawbacks (carrier recombination, narrow light absorption).
It features a high surface area interface (higher than any other known PVs concept) based on ordered anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays, homogenously infilled with nanolayers of high absorption coefficient crystalline chalcogenide or organic chromophores using different techniques, yet unexplored for this purpose. After addition of supporting constituents, a solid-state solar cell with an extremely large incident area for the solar light absorption and optimized electron pathways will be created. The CHROMTISOL solar cell concept bears a large potential to outperform existing thin film photovoltaic technologies and concepts due to unique combination of materials and their complementary properties.
The project aims towards important scientific findings in highly interdisciplinary fields. Being extremely challenging and in the same time risky, it is based on feasible ideas and steps, that will result in exciting achievements.
The principal investigator, Jan Macak, has an outstanding research profile in the field of self-organized anodic nanostructures and is an experienced researcher in the photovoltaic field

In photovoltaics (PVs), a significant scientific and technological attention has been given to technologies that have the potential to boost the solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency and to power recently unpowerable devices and objects. The research of various solar cell concepts for diversified applications (building integrated PVs, powering mobile devices) has recently resulted in many innovations. However, designs and concepts of solar cells fulfilling stringent criteria of efficiency, stability, low prize, flexibility, transparency, tunable cell size, esthetics, are still lacking.
Herein, the research focus is given to a new physical concept of a solar cell that explores extremely promising materials, yet unseen and unexplored in a joint device, whose combination may solve traditional solar cells drawbacks (carrier recombination, narrow light absorption).
It features a high surface area interface (higher than any other known PVs concept) based on ordered anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays, homogenously infilled with nanolayers of high absorption coefficient crystalline chalcogenide or organic chromophores using different techniques, yet unexplored for this purpose. After addition of supporting constituents, a solid-state solar cell with an extremely large incident area for the solar light absorption and optimized electron pathways will be created. The CHROMTISOL solar cell concept bears a large potential to outperform existing thin film photovoltaic technologies and concepts due to unique combination of materials and their complementary properties.
The project aims towards important scientific findings in highly interdisciplinary fields. Being extremely challenging and in the same time risky, it is based on feasible ideas and steps, that will result in exciting achievements.
The principal investigator, Jan Macak, has an outstanding research profile in the field of self-organized anodic nanostructures and is an experienced researcher in the photovoltaic field

Max ERC Funding

1 644 380 €

Duration

Start date: 2015-03-01, End date: 2020-08-31

Project acronymDrEAM

ProjectDirected Evolution of Artificial Metalloenzymes for In Vivo Applications

Researcher (PI)Thomas WARD

Host Institution (HI)UNIVERSITAT BASEL

Call DetailsAdvanced Grant (AdG), PE5, ERC-2015-AdG

SummaryIn the past decade, artificial metalloenzymes (AMs) have emerged as an attractive alternative to the more traditional enzymes and homogeneous catalysts. Such hybrid catalysts result from the incorporation of an abiotic metal cofactor within a macromolecule (protein or oligonucleotide). Artificial metalloenzymes combine attractive features of both homogeneous catalysts and enzymes, including the possibility to genetically optimize the catalytic performance of new-to-nature organometallic reactions. Can artificial metalloenzymes become as catalytically efficient as naturally-evolved metalloenzymes, even in complex biological mixtures? Herein, we outline our efforts to address this challenge by localizing and evolving AMs within the periplasm of Escherichia coli.
To achieve this objective, we will exploit AMs based on the biotin-streptavidin technology. Four subprojects have been tailored to address the challenges: i) knock-out deleterious components present in the periplasm; ii) improve the cofactor uptake through the outer-membrane; iii) engineer streptavidin to boost the AM’s performance; and iv) rely both on screening and selection strategies to evolve AMs in vivo. Relying on auxotrophs, we will demonstrate the potential of AMs to complement metabolic pathways. Only E. coli auxotrophs containing an evolved AM capable of producing the vital aminoacid-precursor will survive the stringent selection pressure. We have identified several selectable aminoacid precursors which can be produced by metathesis (indole, precursor of tryptophan), enone reduction (keto valine, precursor of valine) and allylic substitution (prephenate, precursor of tyrosine and phenylalanine). In a Darwinian evolution spirit, we anticipate that applying selection pressure will allow to evolve AMs to unprecedented catalytic performance.
The main deliverable of the DrEAM is an engineered and evolvable E. coli strain capable of performing in vivo reaction cascades combining AMs and natural enzymes.

In the past decade, artificial metalloenzymes (AMs) have emerged as an attractive alternative to the more traditional enzymes and homogeneous catalysts. Such hybrid catalysts result from the incorporation of an abiotic metal cofactor within a macromolecule (protein or oligonucleotide). Artificial metalloenzymes combine attractive features of both homogeneous catalysts and enzymes, including the possibility to genetically optimize the catalytic performance of new-to-nature organometallic reactions. Can artificial metalloenzymes become as catalytically efficient as naturally-evolved metalloenzymes, even in complex biological mixtures? Herein, we outline our efforts to address this challenge by localizing and evolving AMs within the periplasm of Escherichia coli.
To achieve this objective, we will exploit AMs based on the biotin-streptavidin technology. Four subprojects have been tailored to address the challenges: i) knock-out deleterious components present in the periplasm; ii) improve the cofactor uptake through the outer-membrane; iii) engineer streptavidin to boost the AM’s performance; and iv) rely both on screening and selection strategies to evolve AMs in vivo. Relying on auxotrophs, we will demonstrate the potential of AMs to complement metabolic pathways. Only E. coli auxotrophs containing an evolved AM capable of producing the vital aminoacid-precursor will survive the stringent selection pressure. We have identified several selectable aminoacid precursors which can be produced by metathesis (indole, precursor of tryptophan), enone reduction (keto valine, precursor of valine) and allylic substitution (prephenate, precursor of tyrosine and phenylalanine). In a Darwinian evolution spirit, we anticipate that applying selection pressure will allow to evolve AMs to unprecedented catalytic performance.
The main deliverable of the DrEAM is an engineered and evolvable E. coli strain capable of performing in vivo reaction cascades combining AMs and natural enzymes.

SummaryThe oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the key reaction to enable the storage of solar energy in the form of hydrogen fuel through water splitting. Efficient, Earth-abundant, and robust OER catalysts are required for a large-scale and cost-effective production of solar hydrogen. While OER catalysts based on metal oxides exhibit promising activity and stability, their rational design and developments are challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of the catalysts. Here I propose a project to (i) understand OER on metal oxides at the molecular level and engineer catalytic sites at the atomic scale; (ii) develop and apply practical OER catalysts for high-efficiency water splitting in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical devices. The first general objective will be obtained by using 2-dimensional metal oxide nanosheets as a platform to probe the intrinsic activity and active sites of metal oxide OER catalysts, as well as by developing sub-nanocluster and single-atom metal oxide OER catalysis. The second general objective will be obtained by establishing new and better synthetic methods, developing new classes of catalysts, and applying catalysts in innovative water splitting devices.
The project employs methodologies from many different disciplines in chemistry and materials science. Synthesis is the starting point and the backbone of the project, and the synthetic efforts are complemented and valorised by state-of-the-art characterization and catalytic tests. The project will not only yield significant fundamental insights and knowledge in heterogeneous OER catalysis, but also produce functional and economically viable catalysts for solar fuel production.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the key reaction to enable the storage of solar energy in the form of hydrogen fuel through water splitting. Efficient, Earth-abundant, and robust OER catalysts are required for a large-scale and cost-effective production of solar hydrogen. While OER catalysts based on metal oxides exhibit promising activity and stability, their rational design and developments are challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of the catalysts. Here I propose a project to (i) understand OER on metal oxides at the molecular level and engineer catalytic sites at the atomic scale; (ii) develop and apply practical OER catalysts for high-efficiency water splitting in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical devices. The first general objective will be obtained by using 2-dimensional metal oxide nanosheets as a platform to probe the intrinsic activity and active sites of metal oxide OER catalysts, as well as by developing sub-nanocluster and single-atom metal oxide OER catalysis. The second general objective will be obtained by establishing new and better synthetic methods, developing new classes of catalysts, and applying catalysts in innovative water splitting devices.
The project employs methodologies from many different disciplines in chemistry and materials science. Synthesis is the starting point and the backbone of the project, and the synthetic efforts are complemented and valorised by state-of-the-art characterization and catalytic tests. The project will not only yield significant fundamental insights and knowledge in heterogeneous OER catalysis, but also produce functional and economically viable catalysts for solar fuel production.

Max ERC Funding

2 199 983 €

Duration

Start date: 2016-07-01, End date: 2021-06-30

Project acronymFLAY

ProjectFlavor Anomalies and the origin of the Yukawa couplings

Researcher (PI)Gino ISIDORI

Host Institution (HI)UNIVERSITAT ZURICH

Call DetailsAdvanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2018-ADG

SummaryRecent experimental results in flavor physics exhibit deviations from the Standard Model predictions that are growing with time, both as far as statistical significance and as far as internal consistency. Understanding the origin of this phenomenon, the so-called “flavor anomalies”, is of paramount importance for a deeper understanding of fundamental interactions. As recently shown by the PI and collaborators, this phenomenon is likely to be intimately related to the long-standing “flavor problem”, or the origin of the hierarchical pattern of quark and lepton mass matrices observed in Nature. The goal of this project is to shed light on both these issues, providing a solution to old and recent puzzles in flavor physics. We propose to address these questions via an original bottom-up approach, based on Effective Field Theory methods and simplified models, combined with new top-down ideas about the ultraviolet completion of the Standard Model. On the phenomenological side, the proposed bottom-up approach will allow us to exploit with the highest accuracy all the available and expected experimental data. It will allow us to take into account both low- and high-energy observables, as well as both quark and lepton sectors. These results will constitute the basis for the theoretical investigation of a new class of Standard Model extensions not considered so far. The latter are based on new ideas, such as flavor non-universal gauge interactions, that imply a change of paradigm in theoretical high-energy physics: the origin of the flavor hierarchies plays a central role in revealing the ultraviolet completion of the Standard Model. Combining a bottom-up approach to flavor-physics data with top-down ideas on the origin of the flavor hierarchies, this project has the potential to lead to a major advancement in fundamental physics.

Recent experimental results in flavor physics exhibit deviations from the Standard Model predictions that are growing with time, both as far as statistical significance and as far as internal consistency. Understanding the origin of this phenomenon, the so-called “flavor anomalies”, is of paramount importance for a deeper understanding of fundamental interactions. As recently shown by the PI and collaborators, this phenomenon is likely to be intimately related to the long-standing “flavor problem”, or the origin of the hierarchical pattern of quark and lepton mass matrices observed in Nature. The goal of this project is to shed light on both these issues, providing a solution to old and recent puzzles in flavor physics. We propose to address these questions via an original bottom-up approach, based on Effective Field Theory methods and simplified models, combined with new top-down ideas about the ultraviolet completion of the Standard Model. On the phenomenological side, the proposed bottom-up approach will allow us to exploit with the highest accuracy all the available and expected experimental data. It will allow us to take into account both low- and high-energy observables, as well as both quark and lepton sectors. These results will constitute the basis for the theoretical investigation of a new class of Standard Model extensions not considered so far. The latter are based on new ideas, such as flavor non-universal gauge interactions, that imply a change of paradigm in theoretical high-energy physics: the origin of the flavor hierarchies plays a central role in revealing the ultraviolet completion of the Standard Model. Combining a bottom-up approach to flavor-physics data with top-down ideas on the origin of the flavor hierarchies, this project has the potential to lead to a major advancement in fundamental physics.

Max ERC Funding

2 318 750 €

Duration

Start date: 2019-09-01, End date: 2024-08-31

Project acronymFLOWTONICS

ProjectSolid-state flow as a novel approach for the fabrication of photonic devices

Researcher (PI)Fabien Sorin

Host Institution (HI)ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE

Call DetailsStarting Grant (StG), PE5, ERC-2015-STG

SummaryThe development of advanced photon-based technologies offers exciting promises in fields of crucial importance for the development of sustainable societies such as energy and food management, security and health care. Innovative photonic devices will however reveal their true potential if we can deploy their functionalities not only on rigid wafers, but also over large-area, flexible and stretchable substrates. Indeed, providing energy harvesting, sensing, or stimulating abilities over windows, screens, food packages, wearable textiles, or even biological tissues will be invaluable technological breakthroughs. Today, however, conventional fabrication approaches remain difficult to scale to large area, and are not well adapted to the mechanical and topological requirements of non-rigid and curved substrates. In FLOWTONICS, we propose innovative materials processing approaches and device architectures to enable the simple and scalable fabrication of nano-structured photonic systems compatible with flexible and stretchable substrates. Our strategy is to direct the flow of optical materials through an innovative and thus far unexplored exploitation of the solid-state dewetting and thermal drawing processes. Our objectives are three-fold: (1) Study and demonstrate, for the first time, the strong potential of the dewetting of chalcogenide glasses layers for the fabrication of large area photonic devices; (2) Show that dewetting can also be exploited to realize photonic architectures onto engineered, nano-imprinted flexible and stretchable polymer substrates; (3) Demonstrate, for the first time, the use of the thermal drawing process as a novel tool to realize advanced flexible and stretchable photonic ribbons and fibers. These novel approaches can contribute to game-changing scientific and technological advances for the sustainable management of our resources and to meet our growing health care needs, putting Europe at the forefront of innovation in these crucial areas.

The development of advanced photon-based technologies offers exciting promises in fields of crucial importance for the development of sustainable societies such as energy and food management, security and health care. Innovative photonic devices will however reveal their true potential if we can deploy their functionalities not only on rigid wafers, but also over large-area, flexible and stretchable substrates. Indeed, providing energy harvesting, sensing, or stimulating abilities over windows, screens, food packages, wearable textiles, or even biological tissues will be invaluable technological breakthroughs. Today, however, conventional fabrication approaches remain difficult to scale to large area, and are not well adapted to the mechanical and topological requirements of non-rigid and curved substrates. In FLOWTONICS, we propose innovative materials processing approaches and device architectures to enable the simple and scalable fabrication of nano-structured photonic systems compatible with flexible and stretchable substrates. Our strategy is to direct the flow of optical materials through an innovative and thus far unexplored exploitation of the solid-state dewetting and thermal drawing processes. Our objectives are three-fold: (1) Study and demonstrate, for the first time, the strong potential of the dewetting of chalcogenide glasses layers for the fabrication of large area photonic devices; (2) Show that dewetting can also be exploited to realize photonic architectures onto engineered, nano-imprinted flexible and stretchable polymer substrates; (3) Demonstrate, for the first time, the use of the thermal drawing process as a novel tool to realize advanced flexible and stretchable photonic ribbons and fibers. These novel approaches can contribute to game-changing scientific and technological advances for the sustainable management of our resources and to meet our growing health care needs, putting Europe at the forefront of innovation in these crucial areas.

SummaryIn this proposal, we introduce two new families of probes for live-cell super-resolution microscopy. The first class comprises small-molecule fluorescent sensors for detecting short-lived, small signaling molecules and active enzymes with single-molecule resolution. The spatiotemporal confinement of biological reactive molecules has been hypothesized to regulate various pathological and physiological processes, but the lack of tools to observe directly these microdomains of biochemical activity has precluded the investigation of these mechanisms. The ability to detect small signaling agents and active enzymes with nanometric resolution in intact live specimens will allow us to study the role of compartmentalization in intracellular signaling at an unprecedented resolution. Our studies will focus on detecting elusive reactive oxygen and nitrogen species directly at their sites of endogenous production. We will also investigate the subcellular distribution of protease activity, focusing on its role in non-apoptotic signaling.
The second class of probes encompasses a palette of fluorescent dyes that switch continuously between dark and emissive forms. This dynamic equilibrium will enable the localization of single molecules in a densely labeled field without the need to apply toxic light for photoactivation. Based on a novel switching mechanism, we will prepare dyes of various emission wavelengths that blink in a controlled way. These dyes will allow us to perform, for the first time, super-resolution, multicolor, time-lapse imaging of live specimens over long time. Initial studies will focus on tracking a transcription factor that migrates from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus to initiate a cellular stress response upon protein misfolding. These studies will provide spatiotemporal details of this important translocation, which takes more than one hour to occur and its observation at the single-molecule level is intractable with current super-resolution methods

In this proposal, we introduce two new families of probes for live-cell super-resolution microscopy. The first class comprises small-molecule fluorescent sensors for detecting short-lived, small signaling molecules and active enzymes with single-molecule resolution. The spatiotemporal confinement of biological reactive molecules has been hypothesized to regulate various pathological and physiological processes, but the lack of tools to observe directly these microdomains of biochemical activity has precluded the investigation of these mechanisms. The ability to detect small signaling agents and active enzymes with nanometric resolution in intact live specimens will allow us to study the role of compartmentalization in intracellular signaling at an unprecedented resolution. Our studies will focus on detecting elusive reactive oxygen and nitrogen species directly at their sites of endogenous production. We will also investigate the subcellular distribution of protease activity, focusing on its role in non-apoptotic signaling.
The second class of probes encompasses a palette of fluorescent dyes that switch continuously between dark and emissive forms. This dynamic equilibrium will enable the localization of single molecules in a densely labeled field without the need to apply toxic light for photoactivation. Based on a novel switching mechanism, we will prepare dyes of various emission wavelengths that blink in a controlled way. These dyes will allow us to perform, for the first time, super-resolution, multicolor, time-lapse imaging of live specimens over long time. Initial studies will focus on tracking a transcription factor that migrates from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus to initiate a cellular stress response upon protein misfolding. These studies will provide spatiotemporal details of this important translocation, which takes more than one hour to occur and its observation at the single-molecule level is intractable with current super-resolution methods

SummaryThis project will develop a new platform for quantum computation and quantum simulation based on scalable two-dimensional arrays of ions in micro-fabricated Penning traps. It builds upon the rapid advances demonstrating high precision quantum control in micro-fabricated radio-frequency ion traps while eliminating the most problematic element - the radio-frequency potential - using a uniform magnetic field. This offers a significant advantage: since the magnetic field is uniform it provides confinement at any position for which a suitable static quadrupole can be generated. By contrast, r.f. potentials only provide good working conditions along a line. This changed perspective provides access to dense two-dimensional strongly interacting ion lattices, with the possibility to re-configure these lattices in real time. By combining closely-spaced static two-dimensional ion arrays with standard laser control methods, the project will demonstrate previously inaccessible many-body interacting spin Hamiltonians at ion numbers which are out of the reach of classical computers, providing a scalable quantum simulator with the potential to provide new insights into the links between microscopic physics and emergent behavior. Through dynamic control of electrode voltages, reconfigurable two-dimensional arrays will be used to realize a scalable quantum computing architecture, which will be benchmarked through landmark experiments on measurement-based quantum computation and high error-threshold surface codes which are natural to this configuration. Realizing multi-dimensional connectivity between qubits is a major problem facing a number of leading quantum computing architectures including trapped ions. By solving this problem, the proposed project will pave the way to large-scale universal quantum computing with impacts from fundamental physics through to chemistry, materials science and cryptography.

This project will develop a new platform for quantum computation and quantum simulation based on scalable two-dimensional arrays of ions in micro-fabricated Penning traps. It builds upon the rapid advances demonstrating high precision quantum control in micro-fabricated radio-frequency ion traps while eliminating the most problematic element - the radio-frequency potential - using a uniform magnetic field. This offers a significant advantage: since the magnetic field is uniform it provides confinement at any position for which a suitable static quadrupole can be generated. By contrast, r.f. potentials only provide good working conditions along a line. This changed perspective provides access to dense two-dimensional strongly interacting ion lattices, with the possibility to re-configure these lattices in real time. By combining closely-spaced static two-dimensional ion arrays with standard laser control methods, the project will demonstrate previously inaccessible many-body interacting spin Hamiltonians at ion numbers which are out of the reach of classical computers, providing a scalable quantum simulator with the potential to provide new insights into the links between microscopic physics and emergent behavior. Through dynamic control of electrode voltages, reconfigurable two-dimensional arrays will be used to realize a scalable quantum computing architecture, which will be benchmarked through landmark experiments on measurement-based quantum computation and high error-threshold surface codes which are natural to this configuration. Realizing multi-dimensional connectivity between qubits is a major problem facing a number of leading quantum computing architectures including trapped ions. By solving this problem, the proposed project will pave the way to large-scale universal quantum computing with impacts from fundamental physics through to chemistry, materials science and cryptography.

Max ERC Funding

1 999 375 €

Duration

Start date: 2019-04-01, End date: 2024-03-31

Project acronymMathAm

ProjectMathematical Structures in Scattering Amplitudes

Researcher (PI)Claude Duhr

Host Institution (HI)EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH

Call DetailsStarting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2014-STG

SummaryAmong the most important mathematical quantities of interest in high-energy particle physics are the so-called scattering amplitudes, which allow us to make predictions for physical observables. Despite their importance, performing explicit computations of scattering amplitudes is still one of the bottlenecks of high-energy physics, mostly due to the complexity of the integrals involved and a lack of understanding of the underlying mathematics.
Over the last couple of years, a deep connection between scattering amplitudes and certain branches of modern mathematics has slowly started to emerge. The goal of MathAm is investigate in detail the relationship between scattering amplitudes, number theory and algebraic geometry, with the final aim of developing novel computational techniques for scattering amplitudes that are beyond reach of conventional state-of-the-art technology.
The ultimate goal of MathAm is threefold: By revealing unexpected connections between seemingly disconnected areas of mathematics and physics, MathAm will
1. shed new light on the mathematical underpinnings of the fundamental laws of Nature in general.
2. play a decisive role in testing recent conjectures about the all-loop structure of certain special classes of gauge 3. theories by confronting them to the explicit results for scattering amplitudes,
3. set a new standard for making predictions for collider experiments like the LHC by performing computations that are beyond reach of current technology.
To sum up, MathAm has a unique multi-disciplinary character and, by applying novel technology from modern mathematics, its results will have impact in various seemingly disconnected disciplines, ranging from the frontiers of research in pure mathematics over formal aspects of Quantum Field Theory all the way to making the most precise theoretical predictions for the LHC experiments.

Among the most important mathematical quantities of interest in high-energy particle physics are the so-called scattering amplitudes, which allow us to make predictions for physical observables. Despite their importance, performing explicit computations of scattering amplitudes is still one of the bottlenecks of high-energy physics, mostly due to the complexity of the integrals involved and a lack of understanding of the underlying mathematics.
Over the last couple of years, a deep connection between scattering amplitudes and certain branches of modern mathematics has slowly started to emerge. The goal of MathAm is investigate in detail the relationship between scattering amplitudes, number theory and algebraic geometry, with the final aim of developing novel computational techniques for scattering amplitudes that are beyond reach of conventional state-of-the-art technology.
The ultimate goal of MathAm is threefold: By revealing unexpected connections between seemingly disconnected areas of mathematics and physics, MathAm will
1. shed new light on the mathematical underpinnings of the fundamental laws of Nature in general.
2. play a decisive role in testing recent conjectures about the all-loop structure of certain special classes of gauge 3. theories by confronting them to the explicit results for scattering amplitudes,
3. set a new standard for making predictions for collider experiments like the LHC by performing computations that are beyond reach of current technology.
To sum up, MathAm has a unique multi-disciplinary character and, by applying novel technology from modern mathematics, its results will have impact in various seemingly disconnected disciplines, ranging from the frontiers of research in pure mathematics over formal aspects of Quantum Field Theory all the way to making the most precise theoretical predictions for the LHC experiments.

SummaryWith this proposal, I want to develop a new, multimodal approach to in situ X-ray scattering studies to unravel formation mechanisms of the solid state. The aim of the project is to develop a unified view of metal oxide nucleation processes on the atomic scale: From precursor complexes over pre-nucelation clusters to the final crystalline particle.
The development of new materials relies on our understanding of the relation between material structure, properties and synthesis. While the intense focus on ‘materials by design’ have made it possible to predict the properties of many materials given an atomic arrangement, actually knowing how to synthesize it is a completely different story. Material synthesis methods are to a large degree developed by extensive parameter studies based on trial-and-error experiments. Specifically, our knowledge of particle nucleation is lacking, as even non-classical views on nucleation such as the concept of pre-nucleation clusters do not apply an atomistic view of the formation process. Here, I want to use new methods in X-ray total scattering and Pair Distribution Function analysis to follow nucleation processes to establish the framework needed for predictive material synthesis. One of the large challenges in studying nucleation is the lack of a characterization method that can give structural information on materials without long-range order. I have demonstrated that time-resolved X-ray total scattering gives new possibilities for following structural changes in a synthesis, and the use of total scattering has opened for a new view on material formation. However, the complexity of the structures involved in nucleation processes is too large to obtain sufficient information from X-ray total scattering alone. Here, I will combine X-ray total scattering data with complementary techniques using a new multimodal approach for complex modelling analysis, providing a unifying view on material nucleation.

With this proposal, I want to develop a new, multimodal approach to in situ X-ray scattering studies to unravel formation mechanisms of the solid state. The aim of the project is to develop a unified view of metal oxide nucleation processes on the atomic scale: From precursor complexes over pre-nucelation clusters to the final crystalline particle.
The development of new materials relies on our understanding of the relation between material structure, properties and synthesis. While the intense focus on ‘materials by design’ have made it possible to predict the properties of many materials given an atomic arrangement, actually knowing how to synthesize it is a completely different story. Material synthesis methods are to a large degree developed by extensive parameter studies based on trial-and-error experiments. Specifically, our knowledge of particle nucleation is lacking, as even non-classical views on nucleation such as the concept of pre-nucleation clusters do not apply an atomistic view of the formation process. Here, I want to use new methods in X-ray total scattering and Pair Distribution Function analysis to follow nucleation processes to establish the framework needed for predictive material synthesis. One of the large challenges in studying nucleation is the lack of a characterization method that can give structural information on materials without long-range order. I have demonstrated that time-resolved X-ray total scattering gives new possibilities for following structural changes in a synthesis, and the use of total scattering has opened for a new view on material formation. However, the complexity of the structures involved in nucleation processes is too large to obtain sufficient information from X-ray total scattering alone. Here, I will combine X-ray total scattering data with complementary techniques using a new multimodal approach for complex modelling analysis, providing a unifying view on material nucleation.

SummaryQuantum control is an ambitious framework for steering dynamics from initial states to arbitrary desired final states. It has over the past decade been used extensively with immense success for control of low- dimensional systems in as varied fields as molecular dynamics and quantum computation. Only recently have efforts been initiated to extend this to higher-dimensional many-body systems. Most generic quantum control schemes to date, however, put quite heavy requirements on the controllability of either the system Hamiltonian or a set of measurement operators. This will in many realistic scenarios prohibit an efficient realization.
Within this proposal, I will develop a new quantum control scheme, which is minimalistic on system requirements and therefore ideally suited for the efficient and reliable optimization of many-body control problems. The fundamentally new ingredient is the total quantum evolution dictated by a combination of fixed many-body time evolution and the precise knowledge of the quantum back-action due to repeated quantum non-destruction (QND) measurements of a single projection operator.
The main focus of this proposal is theoretical and experimental quantum engineering of the dynamics in systems, which are sufficiently small to calculate the measurement back-action exactly and sufficiently large to have interesting many-body properties.
Recent experimental advances in single site manipulation of bosons in optical lattices have enabled the high fidelity preparation exactly such mesoscopic samples of atoms (5-50). This forms an ideal starting point for many-body quantum control, and we will i.a. demonstrate engineering of quantum phase transitions and preparation of highly non-classical Schödinger cat states.
Finally, using the results from an online graphical interface allowing users of the internet to solve quantum problems we will attempt to build next-generation optimization computer algorithms with a higher level of cognition built in.

Quantum control is an ambitious framework for steering dynamics from initial states to arbitrary desired final states. It has over the past decade been used extensively with immense success for control of low- dimensional systems in as varied fields as molecular dynamics and quantum computation. Only recently have efforts been initiated to extend this to higher-dimensional many-body systems. Most generic quantum control schemes to date, however, put quite heavy requirements on the controllability of either the system Hamiltonian or a set of measurement operators. This will in many realistic scenarios prohibit an efficient realization.
Within this proposal, I will develop a new quantum control scheme, which is minimalistic on system requirements and therefore ideally suited for the efficient and reliable optimization of many-body control problems. The fundamentally new ingredient is the total quantum evolution dictated by a combination of fixed many-body time evolution and the precise knowledge of the quantum back-action due to repeated quantum non-destruction (QND) measurements of a single projection operator.
The main focus of this proposal is theoretical and experimental quantum engineering of the dynamics in systems, which are sufficiently small to calculate the measurement back-action exactly and sufficiently large to have interesting many-body properties.
Recent experimental advances in single site manipulation of bosons in optical lattices have enabled the high fidelity preparation exactly such mesoscopic samples of atoms (5-50). This forms an ideal starting point for many-body quantum control, and we will i.a. demonstrate engineering of quantum phase transitions and preparation of highly non-classical Schödinger cat states.
Finally, using the results from an online graphical interface allowing users of the internet to solve quantum problems we will attempt to build next-generation optimization computer algorithms with a higher level of cognition built in.

SummaryEmploying laser spectroscopy (LS) to study radionuclides is equally rich in its long tradition as it is manifold in its active pursuit today as virtually all radioactive ion beam (RIB) facilities do or are planning to host dedicated setups. Probing the hyperfine structure of an atom or ion with laser light is a powerful technique to infer nuclear properties such as a nuclide’s spin, charge radius, or electromagnetic moments. This information provides insight into a wide range of contemporary questions in nuclear physics such as the mechanism driving the emergence and disappearance of nuclear shells far away from stability.
In the last decade, LS has benefited from the advent of ion traps in rare isotope science. The bunched beams released from these traps have led to an increase in sensitivity by several orders of magnitude due to an improved signal-to-background ratio when gating on the passing ion bunch.
This present proposal is determined to introduce another type of ion trap, an Electrostatic Ion Beam Trap, which has the potential to enhance the sensitivity of collinear LS by another factor of 20-800. This is achieved by increasing the laser-interaction and observation time by trapping the ion bunch between two electrostatic mirrors while keeping its beam energy at 30 keV to minimize Doppler broadening.
Such a device promises to extend collinear LS to nuclides so far out of reach given their low yields of typically <1000 ions/s at RIB facilities. Among the accessible nuclides are 34Mg in the island of inversion, 20Mg at the neutron shell closure N=8, or Sn isotopes towards the doubly magic 100Sn. Their charge radii will benchmark modern theoretical models utilizing 3-body forces in their quest to understand the evolution of nuclear shells.
Ultimately, the setup can be further enhanced in sensitivity when combined with other single-particle detection methods or by utilizing its multi-reflection time-of-flight aspect to suppress disturbing isobaric contamination.

Employing laser spectroscopy (LS) to study radionuclides is equally rich in its long tradition as it is manifold in its active pursuit today as virtually all radioactive ion beam (RIB) facilities do or are planning to host dedicated setups. Probing the hyperfine structure of an atom or ion with laser light is a powerful technique to infer nuclear properties such as a nuclide’s spin, charge radius, or electromagnetic moments. This information provides insight into a wide range of contemporary questions in nuclear physics such as the mechanism driving the emergence and disappearance of nuclear shells far away from stability.
In the last decade, LS has benefited from the advent of ion traps in rare isotope science. The bunched beams released from these traps have led to an increase in sensitivity by several orders of magnitude due to an improved signal-to-background ratio when gating on the passing ion bunch.
This present proposal is determined to introduce another type of ion trap, an Electrostatic Ion Beam Trap, which has the potential to enhance the sensitivity of collinear LS by another factor of 20-800. This is achieved by increasing the laser-interaction and observation time by trapping the ion bunch between two electrostatic mirrors while keeping its beam energy at 30 keV to minimize Doppler broadening.
Such a device promises to extend collinear LS to nuclides so far out of reach given their low yields of typically <1000 ions/s at RIB facilities. Among the accessible nuclides are 34Mg in the island of inversion, 20Mg at the neutron shell closure N=8, or Sn isotopes towards the doubly magic 100Sn. Their charge radii will benchmark modern theoretical models utilizing 3-body forces in their quest to understand the evolution of nuclear shells.
Ultimately, the setup can be further enhanced in sensitivity when combined with other single-particle detection methods or by utilizing its multi-reflection time-of-flight aspect to suppress disturbing isobaric contamination.

Max ERC Funding

1 463 750 €

Duration

Start date: 2017-01-01, End date: 2021-12-31

Project acronymMODULAR

ProjectModular mechanical-atomic quantum systems

Researcher (PI)Philipp Treutlein

Host Institution (HI)UNIVERSITAT BASEL

Call DetailsStarting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2015-STG

SummaryAtomic ensembles are routinely prepared and manipulated in the quantum regime using the powerful techniques of laser cooling and trapping. To achieve similar control over the vibrations of nanofabricated mechanical oscillators is a goal that is vigorously pursued, which recently led to the first observations of ground-state cooling and quantum behavior in such systems.
In this project, we will explore the new conceptual and experimental possibilities offered by hybrid systems in which the vibrations of a mechanical oscillator are coupled to an ensemble of ultracold atoms. An optomechanics setup and an ultracold atom experiment will be connected by laser light to generate long-distance Hamiltonian interactions between the two systems. This modular approach avoids the technical complications of combining a cryogenic optomechanics experiment and a cold atom experiment into a highly integrated setup. At the same time, it allows to investigate intriguing conceptual questions associated with the remote control of quantum systems.
The coupled mechanical-atomic system will be used for a range of experiments on quantum control and quantum metrology of mechanical vibrations. We will implement new schemes for ground-state cooling of mechanical vibrations that overcome some of the limitations of existing techniques, explore coherent mechanical-atomic interactions and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement, and use such entanglement for measurements of mechanical vibrations beyond the standard quantum limit. The extensive experience of the PI in atomic quantum metrology and hybrid optomechanics will be a valuable asset in this endeavor.
Besides the interesting perspective of observing quantum phenomena in engineered mechanical devices that are visible to the bare eye, the project will open up new avenues for quantum measurement of mechanical vibrations with potential impact on the development of mechanical quantum sensors and transducers for accelerations, forces and fields.

Atomic ensembles are routinely prepared and manipulated in the quantum regime using the powerful techniques of laser cooling and trapping. To achieve similar control over the vibrations of nanofabricated mechanical oscillators is a goal that is vigorously pursued, which recently led to the first observations of ground-state cooling and quantum behavior in such systems.
In this project, we will explore the new conceptual and experimental possibilities offered by hybrid systems in which the vibrations of a mechanical oscillator are coupled to an ensemble of ultracold atoms. An optomechanics setup and an ultracold atom experiment will be connected by laser light to generate long-distance Hamiltonian interactions between the two systems. This modular approach avoids the technical complications of combining a cryogenic optomechanics experiment and a cold atom experiment into a highly integrated setup. At the same time, it allows to investigate intriguing conceptual questions associated with the remote control of quantum systems.
The coupled mechanical-atomic system will be used for a range of experiments on quantum control and quantum metrology of mechanical vibrations. We will implement new schemes for ground-state cooling of mechanical vibrations that overcome some of the limitations of existing techniques, explore coherent mechanical-atomic interactions and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement, and use such entanglement for measurements of mechanical vibrations beyond the standard quantum limit. The extensive experience of the PI in atomic quantum metrology and hybrid optomechanics will be a valuable asset in this endeavor.
Besides the interesting perspective of observing quantum phenomena in engineered mechanical devices that are visible to the bare eye, the project will open up new avenues for quantum measurement of mechanical vibrations with potential impact on the development of mechanical quantum sensors and transducers for accelerations, forces and fields.

Max ERC Funding

1 498 961 €

Duration

Start date: 2016-01-01, End date: 2020-12-31

Project acronymMu-MASS

ProjectMuonium Laser Spectroscopy

Researcher (PI)Paolo CRIVELLI

Host Institution (HI)EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH

Call DetailsConsolidator Grant (CoG), PE2, ERC-2018-COG

SummaryStriking anomalies in the muon sector have accumulated in recent years: notably the famous anomalous muon magnetic moment (g-2) and the muonic hydrogen Lamb shift measurement which prompted the so-called proton charge radius puzzle. These tantalizing results triggered vibrant activity on both experimental and theoretical sides. Different explanations have been put forward including exciting solutions invoking New Physics beyond the Standard Model. To contribute to clarifying the origin of these anomalies, I propose Mu-MASS, an experiment aiming for a 1000-fold improvement in the determination of the 1S-2S transition frequency of Muonium (M), the positive-muon/electron bound state. This substantial improvement beyond the current state-of-the-art relies on the novel cryogenic M converters and confinement techniques developed by the PI, and on the new laser and detection schemes which the PI implemented for positronium spectroscopy. This experiment will be performed at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI).
With the Mu-MASS result our knowledge of the muon mass can be improved by almost two orders of magnitude. By using the expected results of the ongoing hyperfine splitting measurement of M in Japan, it will provide one of the most sensitive tests of bound-state Quantum Electrodynamics. It can also be used to extract the muon g-2 from the ongoing experiment at Fermilab. Since M is a unique system composed of two different leptons (point-like particles), the Mu-MASS results will provide the most stringent test of charge equality between the lepton generations. Moreover, it can be used to determine the Rydberg constant free from nuclear and finite-size effects and contribute to solving the proton charge radius puzzle. Mu-MASS is thus very timely and essential to the worldwide effort to understand the interesting observed discrepancies, which could be a hint of New Physics and therefore have profound implications on our understanding of the Universe.

Striking anomalies in the muon sector have accumulated in recent years: notably the famous anomalous muon magnetic moment (g-2) and the muonic hydrogen Lamb shift measurement which prompted the so-called proton charge radius puzzle. These tantalizing results triggered vibrant activity on both experimental and theoretical sides. Different explanations have been put forward including exciting solutions invoking New Physics beyond the Standard Model. To contribute to clarifying the origin of these anomalies, I propose Mu-MASS, an experiment aiming for a 1000-fold improvement in the determination of the 1S-2S transition frequency of Muonium (M), the positive-muon/electron bound state. This substantial improvement beyond the current state-of-the-art relies on the novel cryogenic M converters and confinement techniques developed by the PI, and on the new laser and detection schemes which the PI implemented for positronium spectroscopy. This experiment will be performed at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI).
With the Mu-MASS result our knowledge of the muon mass can be improved by almost two orders of magnitude. By using the expected results of the ongoing hyperfine splitting measurement of M in Japan, it will provide one of the most sensitive tests of bound-state Quantum Electrodynamics. It can also be used to extract the muon g-2 from the ongoing experiment at Fermilab. Since M is a unique system composed of two different leptons (point-like particles), the Mu-MASS results will provide the most stringent test of charge equality between the lepton generations. Moreover, it can be used to determine the Rydberg constant free from nuclear and finite-size effects and contribute to solving the proton charge radius puzzle. Mu-MASS is thus very timely and essential to the worldwide effort to understand the interesting observed discrepancies, which could be a hint of New Physics and therefore have profound implications on our understanding of the Universe.

Max ERC Funding

1 999 150 €

Duration

Start date: 2019-02-01, End date: 2024-01-31

Project acronymNuBSM

ProjectFrom Fermi to Planck : a bottom up approach

Researcher (PI)Mikhail SHAPOSHNIKOV

Host Institution (HI)ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE

Call DetailsAdvanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2015-AdG

SummaryThe Standard Model of particle physics is a hugely successful theory that has been tested in experiments at ever increasing energies, culminating in the recent discovery of the Higgs boson. Nevertheless, some major riddles cannot be addressed by the Standard Model, such as neutrino oscillations, the existence of Dark Matter, the absence of antimatter in the Universe. New fundamental principles, interactions and unknown yet particles are required to address these questions. Much of the research done during the last three decades on physics ‘beyond the Standard Model’ (BSM) has been driven by attempts to find a ‘natural’ solution of the hierarchy problem: why the Planck and the electroweak scales are so different. The most popular approaches to this problem predict new particles with the masses right above the electroweak scale.
This project explores an alternative idea that the absence of new particles with masses between the electroweak and Planck scales, supplemented by extra symmetries (such as scale invariance) may itself explain why the mass of the Higgs boson is much smaller than the Planck mass. This calls for a solution of the BSM problems by extremely feebly interacting particles with masses below the electroweak scale. Along the same lines we also explore the possibility that cosmological inflation does not require a new field, but is driven by the Higgs field of the Standard Model.
The proposed model offers solutions for BSM puzzles and is among a few ones that can be tested with existing experimental technologies and are valid even if no evidence for new physics is found at the LHC.
Constructing such a theory requires consolidated efforts in domains of high-energy theory, particle physics phenomenology, physics of the early Universe, cosmology and astrophysics as well as analyses of the available data from previous experiments and from cosmology. We will make predictions and establish the sensitivity goals for future high intensity experiments.

The Standard Model of particle physics is a hugely successful theory that has been tested in experiments at ever increasing energies, culminating in the recent discovery of the Higgs boson. Nevertheless, some major riddles cannot be addressed by the Standard Model, such as neutrino oscillations, the existence of Dark Matter, the absence of antimatter in the Universe. New fundamental principles, interactions and unknown yet particles are required to address these questions. Much of the research done during the last three decades on physics ‘beyond the Standard Model’ (BSM) has been driven by attempts to find a ‘natural’ solution of the hierarchy problem: why the Planck and the electroweak scales are so different. The most popular approaches to this problem predict new particles with the masses right above the electroweak scale.
This project explores an alternative idea that the absence of new particles with masses between the electroweak and Planck scales, supplemented by extra symmetries (such as scale invariance) may itself explain why the mass of the Higgs boson is much smaller than the Planck mass. This calls for a solution of the BSM problems by extremely feebly interacting particles with masses below the electroweak scale. Along the same lines we also explore the possibility that cosmological inflation does not require a new field, but is driven by the Higgs field of the Standard Model.
The proposed model offers solutions for BSM puzzles and is among a few ones that can be tested with existing experimental technologies and are valid even if no evidence for new physics is found at the LHC.
Constructing such a theory requires consolidated efforts in domains of high-energy theory, particle physics phenomenology, physics of the early Universe, cosmology and astrophysics as well as analyses of the available data from previous experiments and from cosmology. We will make predictions and establish the sensitivity goals for future high intensity experiments.

Max ERC Funding

2 371 132 €

Duration

Start date: 2016-10-01, End date: 2021-09-30

Project acronymnuDirections

ProjectNew Directions in Theoretical Neutrino Physics

Researcher (PI)Joachim Kopp

Host Institution (HI)EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH

Call DetailsStarting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2014-STG

Summary"Thanks to tremendous advances in terrestrial, astrophysical and cosmological experiments, neutrino physics has again become one of the driving forces of progress in astroparticle physics. The proposed project nuDirections provides the indispensable theoretical counterpart to the rapid experimental developments. Our goal is to investigate from a theoretical point of view a multitude of unexplored phenomena within and beyond the Standard Model of particle physics that are now becoming experimentally accessible in new neutrino experiments. The three main pillars of the project are: (1) Light sterile neutrinos. With hypothetical eV-scale sterile neutrinos coming under intense scrutiny by new experiments, sophisticated global fits will remain a linchpin for the theoretical interpretation of experimental data. We plan to carry out these fits using upgrades of our world-leading numerical codes, and to use our results as guidelines for exploring new theoretical models featuring sterile neutrinos as part of a larger ""hidden sector"" of particle physics. This includes in particular the unique phenomenology of self-interacting sterile neutrinos. (2) Decoherence effects in dense neutrino gases. As neutrinos propagate, coherence between different mass eigenstates is eventually lost due to their different group velocities. We will demonstrate that decoherence can completely modify neutrino oscillations in dense environments such as supernovae or the early Universe. Mapping the rich phenomenology of decoherence effects in neutrino oscillations thus has the potential to play a game-changing role in the physics of supernova neutrinos. (3) Neutrinos and dark matter. We plan to develop a new mechanism for the production of sterile neutrino dark matter in the early Universe and to play a leading role in the theory and phenomenology of neutrino signals from dark matter annihilation or decay.
"

"Thanks to tremendous advances in terrestrial, astrophysical and cosmological experiments, neutrino physics has again become one of the driving forces of progress in astroparticle physics. The proposed project nuDirections provides the indispensable theoretical counterpart to the rapid experimental developments. Our goal is to investigate from a theoretical point of view a multitude of unexplored phenomena within and beyond the Standard Model of particle physics that are now becoming experimentally accessible in new neutrino experiments. The three main pillars of the project are: (1) Light sterile neutrinos. With hypothetical eV-scale sterile neutrinos coming under intense scrutiny by new experiments, sophisticated global fits will remain a linchpin for the theoretical interpretation of experimental data. We plan to carry out these fits using upgrades of our world-leading numerical codes, and to use our results as guidelines for exploring new theoretical models featuring sterile neutrinos as part of a larger ""hidden sector"" of particle physics. This includes in particular the unique phenomenology of self-interacting sterile neutrinos. (2) Decoherence effects in dense neutrino gases. As neutrinos propagate, coherence between different mass eigenstates is eventually lost due to their different group velocities. We will demonstrate that decoherence can completely modify neutrino oscillations in dense environments such as supernovae or the early Universe. Mapping the rich phenomenology of decoherence effects in neutrino oscillations thus has the potential to play a game-changing role in the physics of supernova neutrinos. (3) Neutrinos and dark matter. We plan to develop a new mechanism for the production of sterile neutrino dark matter in the early Universe and to play a leading role in the theory and phenomenology of neutrino signals from dark matter annihilation or decay.
"

SummaryThe ability toThe ability to readily access small-molecule building blocks at will has important consequences for the discovery and development of novel medicines and materials. It is particularly beneficial when the chemical methods are convenient while at the same time economically and environmentally tenable and sustainable. We are especially interested in catalytic processes that are easily executed and utilize readily available starting materials to produce optically active products with high regio, chemo, diastereo, and enantioselectivity.
The proposal aims to discover, develop, and study a collection of enantioselective olefin functionalization reactions that provide access to useful building blocks, such as amines, azides, hydrazines, nitriles, alcohols, involving acyclic, cyclic and bicyclic structures. The catalyst will be derived from earth abundant metals, such as Fe, Mn, and Co and incorporate novel chiral ligands. The study includes the design and preparation of two structural classes of novel, chiral boric acids that are expected to serve as catalyst for the enantioselective functionalization of unsaturated carboxylic acids and boronic acids.
The methods are expected to substantially impact the development of novel strategies for complex molecule synthesis. In this regard, we propose to use the catalysts form this study to convert dienes and trienes into polyols with characteristic stereochemical and oxidation patterns found in bioactive agents, including pharma- and nutraceuticals (carnitine). Such advances enable new approaches that go beyond the well-established methods such as aldol/allylation for the preparation of stereochemically complex fragments. Catalysts will also be developed that convert acyclic olefinic alcohols and amines into optically active, saturated furans, pyrans, pyrrolidines, and piperidines. The implementation of the various catalytic methods in complex settings enables efficient, convergent routes to bioactive agents.

The ability toThe ability to readily access small-molecule building blocks at will has important consequences for the discovery and development of novel medicines and materials. It is particularly beneficial when the chemical methods are convenient while at the same time economically and environmentally tenable and sustainable. We are especially interested in catalytic processes that are easily executed and utilize readily available starting materials to produce optically active products with high regio, chemo, diastereo, and enantioselectivity.
The proposal aims to discover, develop, and study a collection of enantioselective olefin functionalization reactions that provide access to useful building blocks, such as amines, azides, hydrazines, nitriles, alcohols, involving acyclic, cyclic and bicyclic structures. The catalyst will be derived from earth abundant metals, such as Fe, Mn, and Co and incorporate novel chiral ligands. The study includes the design and preparation of two structural classes of novel, chiral boric acids that are expected to serve as catalyst for the enantioselective functionalization of unsaturated carboxylic acids and boronic acids.
The methods are expected to substantially impact the development of novel strategies for complex molecule synthesis. In this regard, we propose to use the catalysts form this study to convert dienes and trienes into polyols with characteristic stereochemical and oxidation patterns found in bioactive agents, including pharma- and nutraceuticals (carnitine). Such advances enable new approaches that go beyond the well-established methods such as aldol/allylation for the preparation of stereochemically complex fragments. Catalysts will also be developed that convert acyclic olefinic alcohols and amines into optically active, saturated furans, pyrans, pyrrolidines, and piperidines. The implementation of the various catalytic methods in complex settings enables efficient, convergent routes to bioactive agents.

Max ERC Funding

2 498 635 €

Duration

Start date: 2019-09-01, End date: 2024-08-31

Project acronymPertQCD

ProjectAutomatization of perturbative QCD at very high orders.

Researcher (PI)Charalampos ANASTASIOU

Host Institution (HI)EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH

Call DetailsAdvanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2015-AdG

SummaryIn recent months, we broke new ground in perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics computing for the first time a physical cross-section of a hadron collider process - Higgs production - at the fourth order in the strong coupling constant expansion. This breakthrough improved the perturbative precision of a fundamental cross-section by a factor of four, paving the way for a very precise testing of the Standard Model theory against LHC data.
The aim of our proposal is to fully automate all calculations which are needed for LHC and future collider physics at similarly high perturbative orders. Our work will improve the precision of theoretical predictions across the spectrum of LHC phenomenology, matching or superseding the accuracy of
experimental measurements. In turn, we will be able to draw firm conclusions about the validity of theories which aspire to describe nature at TeV energies and search confidently for signals of new physics through precision measurements at the LHC.

In recent months, we broke new ground in perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics computing for the first time a physical cross-section of a hadron collider process - Higgs production - at the fourth order in the strong coupling constant expansion. This breakthrough improved the perturbative precision of a fundamental cross-section by a factor of four, paving the way for a very precise testing of the Standard Model theory against LHC data.
The aim of our proposal is to fully automate all calculations which are needed for LHC and future collider physics at similarly high perturbative orders. Our work will improve the precision of theoretical predictions across the spectrum of LHC phenomenology, matching or superseding the accuracy of
experimental measurements. In turn, we will be able to draw firm conclusions about the validity of theories which aspire to describe nature at TeV energies and search confidently for signals of new physics through precision measurements at the LHC.